Mia Epsilon's Blog

Why 9.11 Means Something to All of Us.Most of you know I...

 Why 9.11 Means Something to All of Us.

Most of you know I take pride in the fact I’m from a first responder family. My great-grandfather, grandfather, father, husband, brother, kids, uncles, aunts, cousins—all firemen, police, or EMTS. 9.11 means something to us. 9.11 should mean something to every American. Not just for its history, for its violence, for its shocking duration and aftermath, for the way it changed the entire world for everyone. The life of every American changed that day, whether you realize it or not. And we still live 9.11 every day.9.11 means something to us.So, when I hear someone whine or complain about all the tributes and memorials today, I want to shake them and say THIS. THIS is why 9.11 matters. And show them the THIS.THIS means something to us. 9.11 means something to us.It’s not over. 9.11 lingers not only because it was the most horrific foreign terrorist attack ever on American soil, but because for so many, 9.11 and its effects aren’t over.Our First Responders, construction workers, medical workers, clergy, deli workers, service animals, shopkeepers, those near ‘Ground Zero’… and so many others are still dying from the effects of 9.11. Cancer acquired from 9.11 dust and debris takes the lives of hundreds every year.More people have died from 9.11 cancer than died in the actual 9.11 attacks.THIS is why 9.11 means something to us.For me, personally… A bit of backstory. Sorry for ‘stopping the action’ in the middle of the chapter...My mom was born in upstate New York and grew up near the City, in Queens and the Bronx. Many of these families have sons who are police officers, firefighters, or priests. Some are doctors or lawyers. But these are Legacy First Responder families.My grandmother wanted Mom to marry a legacy firefighter or policeman. She constantly introduced my mom to her friends’ sons, the firemen, the policemen, the Legacy. Mom dated a few of them.To digress a bit…I had a coworker, Julia, from an NYC Legacy family. All her family, mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc. were Legacy fire, police, EMTs. Julia was her name, and every Sept. 9, she took off for a week and “went home—because everyone comes home for 9.11.” She lost 4 cousins, 3 uncles, an aunt, and 2 grandparents to the 9.11 attacks. She’s since lost even more to 9.11 cancer.9.11 means something to them.My family lost 2 young cousins, an uncle, and a sister-in-law as First Responders in 9.11. We lost my great-aunt, who worked on the 87th Floor of the South Tower. She had been a nurse's aid before she took the job there, and I know she died helping others who were hurt. She wouldn't have thought, even days away from retirement, of herself. She would have been helping those who needed it.9.11 means something to us.Julia and I were talking one day, and realized my mom had dated her uncle. Small world, ehh? Especially since we always think NYC is so big. When Julia asked, many of her cousins and aunts recalled my mom’s name or went to school with her. I wish I could have asked my Mom about them. But by then… well, a story for another day.But at age 16, my Mom came South during Summer break to help out her sister-in-law with her 4 kids under age 5, and met my Dad while on a grocery store run. They married right after my Mom finished high school. My grandmother didn’t like my Dad. He wasn’t her idea of a son-in-law: he was Southern, he was ‘hick’ (country), his family wasn’t well off or Catholic, he was Southern. But my Dad was Legacy, too.Volunteer, mostly, which (no disrespect to the profess), but volunteers do it because they have a calling, not because they are paid. And let me say up front: ALL first responders do the job because they want, they need, they are called. Not for the money.But I digress. Again.My great-grandfather was a volunteer fireman. My grandfather and his best friend started the state’s first volunteer fire department. He served as the Fire Chief, then the Chief of the Board. My Dad was a fireman, then Chief, then Chief of the Board. My brother was a volunteer, now a professional. My husband was a volunteer fireman. My kids have been volunteers. Mom’s brothers were firemen. My cousins are firemen or First Responders.9.11 means something to us.Many of these volunteer firefighters went to help at 9.11 Ground Zero. Two of them have died since, of 9.11 cancer.First Responders are the reason people live. Period. Yeah, there are good and bad ones, like any profession on this Earth. But almost every single person in the US owes their life now, or in the future, to a First Responder. If you haven’t yet met one, you will. That’s why 9.11 should mean something to them, to us, to every American. And if you think you weren’t directly affected, as an American, by 9.11, you’re wrong.9.11 means something to all of us.

Is the System Broken?

A lot of discussion about the warnings given about the (this time) TX floods. Unpopular opinion: It doesn't matter about staff or cuts when the SYSTEM is broken. Whether it's 1 person or 100, if they follow the System guidelines, and it appears they did, it wouldn't have made a difference.

BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN.

How is it broken? Yes, we get 'watches'. You know what a 'watch' is? It means 'maybe'. Things COULD happen. That's how 99.9% of the public thinks. "Okay, maybe. Go on with more preseeing things until something happens." And we do.

WNC did, too, in Sept. 2024.

Tell me, CA friends: If your weather people say, "Okay, earthquake watch"...do you say, "OMG, we're having an earthquake! Hurry, get outside!"
No. You don't until it happens--and it better be more than some little dinky 2, 3 or even 4 on the scale, cause those are just nothing.
Right?


OK, Friends, and all in 'tornado alley': During a tornado watch, do you get all your valuables and go into your shelters?
No. You wait until it's a Warning.



And God forgive me, before Helene, I trained new staff on 'watch' meaning there COULD be an upgrade to 'warning'. Warning is serious and means a tornado is coming, take action.
Not to 'ignore' watch, but definitely plan action on a 'warning'.

That's how our System is. They tell us 'watch out' for things. And TBH, and if you are too, you hear 'watch' and go, "Yeah yeah, it's freaking summer. Of course, there's a thunderstorm watch. There is every day cause it's freaking Summer."
"Yeah, yeah, there's a tornado watch. There always is this time of year."
"Yeah, yeah, earthquake watch. It's freaking CA, after all."

Right?

By the time the System says, "Warning,"...the event is ALREADY happening. The tornado is headed at you and you have seconds to act. The thunderstorm is lighting the sky around you and you better have your bottom inside because lightning can strike from 10 miles away. The ground is already shaking in an earthquake.
Areas are already covered in water.


I don't train that way anymore. Since Helene. I train anytime there's a watch, keep a radio on you that gives updates. I keep one on at home and at work. I text my kids during watches.
I listen more closely when the weatherpeople say 'watch'. I plan. I always will from now on, because I survived Helene. I have a weather warning system on my tablet that runs 24/7. I tune in to Ryan Hall, Y'all, to hear about severe weather. I don;t take for granted that I'm not in flood plane, or near an ocean.

But the SYSTEM has not yet changed. Because PEOPLE have not yet changed.

I am NOT victim blaming. Hell no. Nature is gonna do what Nature is gonna do, and NO human can predict 100% what Nature will do. Don't believe that, just watch your local weather and then compare how 'accurate' they are.

When Helene was still out in the Atlantic, and its path wasn't near WNC (it was supposed to go through our neighbor, TN), no one batted an eye here. When it looked closer, we heard about flooding 'in the low lying areas'.

Okay, I'm not in a flood plane. Most of WNC isn't. We're MOUNTAINS for Heaven's sake. We're 400 miles from a beach. I don't live near a river. (this little bit of water a football field from my backyard is barely even a creek). Hurricanes don't happen 400 miles from oceans. Sure, the depressions do. 100 years ago, there were floods here. But there weren't warnings like there are now. Maybe some wind, more rain, power could go out for a little while. Nothing to worry about.
After all, we have all this technology now. We know everything ahead of time.

Fate has to laugh at us. God facepalms.



And before Helene, if you told me that little creek, that I can step (not even have to jump) over, that is at most, ankle deep, and usually won't even cover my foot in the Summer, would flood to 12 ft, cover my neighborhood, would destroy homes & cars, and kill 2 people, I would have laughed at you.

I would have laughed at you 2 days before Helene. I would have laughed at you on Sept. 26 and even Sept. 27 until 7AM in the morning.

I will never laugh at that again. Ever.

We got a 'stalled' system that dumped lots of rain, just like Kerrville, TX did. Yup, low-lying areas flooded, like the System said. But most of WNC didn't. We just went about life. Just like Kerrville did.

Then we heard, 'lots of rain'. 'Maybe historic' rain. BUT NEVER, EVER DID ANYONE SAY, "20 ft or water is going to wipe Chimney Rock Village (it's a '500 yr' flood plane, not 100, or even 10 yr) off the map. Biltmore Square in downtown Asheville will be underwater. And even my backyard, that never flooded before, will be under 10-12 ft of water. Hundreds of people are going to die. Power will be off for weeks. There will be no cell phones. No internet. No water. All roads are closed and damaged. Grocery stores closed or out of food. No fast food or restaurants. Gas stations out of gas. No showers or laundry. Cash only, and yet banks & ATMs are closed.

NO ONE SAID THAT. THERE WAS NO WARNING ABOUT THAT UNTIL IT ALREADY HAPPENED.


From what I've heard, even with the 'Flash Flood Emergency' warnings, when they started AFTER the rivers were already flooding, none of them ever said 'Wall of Water' or '12 feet of water' or '27 feet of water'. Not here, in WNC. Not in Kerrville.

The System didn't warn that. Because the System didn't KNOW. Until it happened.

The System is broken. Maybe Humans are, too, because we don't take, and aren't conditioned to take, a 'watch' as a prediction, for lack of any other word, something awful might happen.

Maybe it's not the System we need to fix. Maybe it's Humans.

Working On...

I'm working!

I'm working...really. 2025 is nearly halfway finished, and I have survived.Sometimes, that is the best work you can do. I'm surviving.
I think many of us are in that mode 'survive'. Thrive later, but right now just survive. not just here, in my beautiful and beloved Blue Ridge mountains, still struggling to recover from Helene, but all around the world.
So let's take future books and Things to Look Forward To...
Spring! Summer!

A new idea slammed into me recently and refuses to let go. The characters, especially Hank, have been...um, whispering (Hank doesn't whisper...whine a bit, but not whisper) in my ear and I set aside Book 4 of Abbeville to respond to his...their... call. 
It's both hard and easy to write what Hank is showing and telling me. Hard because the setting is September 27-30, 2024, in Western North Carolina.
Hurricane Helene damage, downtown Asheville
(Tangent: September has now become a month of the most devastating events to happen in US and NC history: The Terrorist Attacks on 9.11 and Hurricane Helene's rampage on 9.27). 
Easy because Hank is showing me everything as if I'm watching a movie, seeing and hearing clearly as each character speaks, interacts, and goes about the last of their 'normal' lives before everything changes. I'm just basically typing what I see.
Meet Hank
But again...reliving these events, still so fresh in my mind, is emotionally draining. It's why I'm going to hesitate to release this new book, since these events will also still be very, very fresh in the minds of some of the people who might read it.
A bit like 2018, when I was set to release Let Me Know, which features a volcano eruption-- and Madame Pele decided to show her power in real life with the eruption of Mount Kilauea. This event changed the face of Hawaii forever (the good part was it added several acres of pristine new beach), destroying homes, businesses, and lives. While no one was reported killed, dozens were injured from falling debris and lava, while 724 structures were destroyed. 
2018 Kilauea Eruption

I delayed the release of Let Me Know because it just felt wrong, somehow, to release a book celebrating love and new life when so many were struggling to rebuild their lives. 


I feel the same way now, with this new project. It seems wrong, somehow, to release a book detailing my experience (as seen through Hank) with Helene when so many are still struggling to recover. But for now, I'm writing what Hank shows me, and we'll go from there.
So...I am working. I promise. Stay tuned for more Hank.

And an ERUPTING New Year!Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano 1/15/25...

And an ERUPTING New Year!

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano 1/15/25

Hawaii Volcanoes NPS@Volcanoes_NPSKīlauea volcano's eruption resumed this morning 1/15/25, and the park is busy! Eruption viewing and safety tips here: https://go.nps.gov/11ug27NPS Photo/J.Wei

A bit of FYI: I delayed the release of Let Me Know for six months, due to the 2018 eruption of Kilauea.

 For those of you who have read the 'Weddings by C & C series, Book 5, Let Me Know, is the story of Aly and Harry, both native Hawaiians who are seeped in history. It also introduces you to an intriguing character named...simply 'her' who has a life-changing encounter with Aly, and a brief interaction with Harry. Both these incidents prove how one small act of kindness can change the path of many lives.

Now...we all know who 'her' is, yes? 

She is Madame Pele, the great Hawaiian Goddess of fire, lightning, wind, dance, and volcanoes. She lives on Mount Kilauea with her faithful companion and dog. Madame Pele doesn't necessarily see her eruptions as 'destruction' (and many native Islanders do not, either, as they consider her 'ohana', or family). She sees her eruptions as 'changing', a redecorating of sorts. And for those who honor her, she is usually kind. She is sacred and revered by those who are wise.

Known for a fast, fiery temper, Pele is fiercely protective of her dog and especially her mountain home (which, honestly, I identify completely with her on those!). It is considered extremely bad to take anything from her mountain. Every year, dozens of rocks are mailed back to Hawaii, from tourists who took them and have experienced nothing but evil luck since!

Madame Pele has an intriguing, and sad, story. 

Her parents were Earth Mother and Sky Father, descendants of supreme beings. She has dozens of siblings. She was chased from her home by her sister and finally had to settle on the one spot no one else had claimed:  Halemaʻumaʻu , the summit caldera fire pit of Mount Kilauea, where she then built the Hawaiian Islands. The entire 'Big Island' of Hawaii is considered her domain.

One version of Madame Pele

That is one of her many stories. What great Goddess doesn't have many, many tales of her?

In addition, Pele is the Goddess of dance, especially the hula which she played a significant part in creating and maintaining. Many of the movements of hula are attributed to her passionate, fiery nature. Hula does, of course, tell a story through each movement.

Although called jealous and destructive, Pele also can be appeased by those who truly honor her. Many will dance an ancient hula when eruptions threaten homes and villages as well as leaving gifts of fruit and alcohol. Pele also has a bit of a prankish spirit: She can appear as a dog, an old woman, or a beautiful maiden, to test those she meets to see if they are kind or mean. The kind are rewarded. The mean...well, they incur her wrath.

For Harry, the deeply rooted and faithful to Hawaii culture man, Pele is the revered, one whose name is spoken in almost whispers. His encounter with her is brief, but makes a long-lasting impact-- and also aids him in his pursuit of true love with Aly, the girl he has always loved. 

For Aly, Pele helps her embrace her culture and true self, without 'giving up' what Aly has always thought she would have to in order to be both modern and faithful to her roots. Aly's acceptance of, and embracing of, herself and all the parts of her, are a bit like Pele herself. Perhaps the two women helped each other?

Read Let Me Know and let me know (I just can't help myself) what you think of Madame Pele!

Happy 2025!New Year...New Books!I post the above image e...

 

Happy 2025!

New Year...New Books!

I post the above image every year to gently remind us all (and myself) to READ, READ, READ! Only in a book can you experience a whole new world (a bit like the Disney song Jasmine and Aladdin sing to cement their love story). Whether it's 1 book (How can anyone only read 1 book???? Books are like Pringles, no one can eat just one...no one can...) or 1,000 (that's more like it), your new year should include lots of books, new characters, stories you fall in love with, and places you always want to go.
2025...half the decade is almost over!
I also like the above...because it reminds all of us each new year, typically reserved for 'New Year Resolutions' does really serve to remind us that each new year is a chance to start over, and begin things you've wanted or needed. Simply, it IS a new chapter in the novel of your life. New years are filled with promise and hope...or they should be. It's hard, in today's current world, to find either of those things but the new year, and all its countdowns, kisses, and toasts does remind us every day is the page (or more) of the Chapter of Your Life. So write a good one, eh? (Apologies, couldn't miss the chance to add The Doctor in there).


This is a new image for me, and I love it. After the chaos of the last few years, especially 2020, maybe 2025 will have the opportunity to be normal...or close to normal? But then we can debate what normal is...and that's a whole new chapter on its own! New Year, 2025, is the Opportunity to be what we want, achieve what we want, do things we want, and read (had to throw that in).

So let's all start 2025 with Hope...remembering its Opportunity... and Promise to...READ more. 

Surviving Helene

My photo, 10 feet flooding, my backyard

 Reflecting after 3 weeks...

(Yes it's both a rant and a thankfulness--it's impossible for me to separate atthis time, and if that disappoints some, then don't continue reading. There will be more, so much more, but for now...sighs. This is what it is. I'll be back to myself, and lighter again. Soon. For today, for this post, I'm not going to pretend it's all okay.).

Things have, in many areas, returned to 'civilized'. I can't say normal,because we're slowly discovering what the new 'normal (a term I've never liked)is. Power, internet (spotty still), phone, mail, garbage pick-up, and water arerestored--here. Gas is available as are limited groceries (mostly d/t the maingrocery chain's distribution for the entire area served (several states) wasdestroyed).
The northern end of this county remains closed, a nightmare, and destroyed.Many people are still missing, and the 'rescue' is now 'recovery'. (If youdon't understand the difference...rescue is hoping to find live victims;recovery is knowing when--IF--they are found, they will be dead).

Many stores, businesses, and private homes are closed--with no date forreopening. Ruined debris litter is stacked in front of so many places. (Youshould have seen the twisted exercise machines from Planet Fitness. Youcouldn't tell what some of it was). Some small businesses, I'm so afraid, maynever return.

Lake Lure

Roads are mostly clear, though two-to-story-high piles of trees & debrisremain, and probably will for weeks. Back and side roads are still'try-at-your-own-risk'. Power trucks are still staged in the old mall parkinglot. Chainsaws run all around me from dawn to well after nightfall (usingvehicle lights). Heavy vehicles (front-end loaders, dump trucks, etc.) continueto 'muck out' the once shallow rivers around here--that now have new paths& beds.

US Interstate 40W, NC/TN states line

Most distribution sites are closed. Churches have 'call us if you needsomething' notices on their billboards.
The lines to apply for disaster aid called 'D-Snap' (food assistance) &FEMA aid (this county NEVER EVER had LIVE AGENTS on the ground here. DO NOARGUE THIS WITH ME). I damn well know bc I f-ing live here--we are the 2ndlargest county & never saw what Asheville did nor did any 'armed milia'threaten any government agency here) are miles, yes, MILES long.
Aid Phone lines are backed up for hours (I called for one of my student'sfamily, and waited over 2.5 hrs. only to be told 'we are now closed tocalls'--the next day, I used the 'agent will call you back when it's your turn'feature & never received a call back) and don't accept calls on Sundays;weekdays are only 8a-4p (they close the lines at 3p) and Sat from 9a-12p.

Photo by me, 10.7.24

Schools are back in session, and people have returned to work--here. Someplaces --here--look like Helene never existed: Jump Off Rock, for example. Busservice (such as it was, lol) has not resumed, nor has the recycling program.Trains aren't running. Private small planes and helicopter aid can land at thelocal airport, but the hangers are destroyed.

People are walking around in a daze. I'm one. We're the same and yet different;I see friends, neighbors, ppl I know working at the grocery store and we allhave this same sort of vacant, damaged, uncertain expression.

We haven't had rain since Helene. That's a long space for this area, which is heavilyagricultural. I think many of us are terrified of rain and will be for a long,long time.

But the sky is still filled with stars and northern lights (or was). The moonstill rises, and so does the sun. I can still see the gently rolling mountains,hills, and valleys of this place that captured my heart when I was still just atiny child. I can't imagine living anywhere else., even as I joke about buyinga castle in Ireland or Scotland. It's getting colder, we had our first lightfrost, and I love watching the different colors of the trees--and leaves-- thatstill remain.

Northern Lights, Nov. 2024

I am blessed. Here. I have survived.

Footnote: I say 'here' a lot. Because I know if I walk down this road towardtown, I will see the businesses and houses that once bordered the small creekand they are destroyed. If I drive a mile in any direction, the scars of Heleneare everywhere: ruined buildings, thick dust and mud, broken trees, tarps,power lines left wrapped around tree debris. Towns around this one are NOT'here' yet: even the biggest is just starting to get drinkable water in smallspots. Some towns that used to be there, aren't anymore. It's not the area itwas 9.25.24. It never will be again.

But here is home. And as Dorothy found out long ago, there really is no placelike home.

God Bless WNC.

Should 'Historical' Events be Modernized?

The Bridgerton Series

Bridgerton Season 3
If you, like me, have been captivated by the magic of the Netflix Series 'Bridgerton', we aren't alone! Millions of fans around the world have fallen in love with this series based on a series of popular historical romance books originally penned by author Julia Quinn (who also collaborated on the show). Each sibling of the Bridgerton family (there are eight) gets their own story in Julia's world of Regency England and its all popular, consuming 'marriage mart' 'season' where members of the ton (upper-class families) went to parties and balls for the sole purpose of meeting a mate and marrying well. Servants and townsfolk were also featured, but the focus was on the main love story, THE Bridgerton of the Season, and those trying to help (and hinder) their path to true love.
Season 1 premiered on Christmas Day (what a present for us fans!) in 2020-- some wonderfully romantic, fun drama after a year the world spent in fear, shock, illness, and for many, total or partial lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At a time when going to the cinema was still a wishful dream, Brigerton entered our lives and brightened our moods (not to mention caused heat waves from the frank, and truly, beautifully fun sex scenes). It was a huge hit, surprising the cynics and critics who claimed 'pure romance' would never sell.
                                                        The couple who started it all

Well sell it did! And how! Bridgerton Season 1 became one of Netflix's most-watched shows, wildly popular in every country it showed in, and making stars of the leads and a large supporting cast of characters who, some, would soon feature as leads, helpers, or hinders in the next Season of the show (and the ton). It would land as the 5th most-watched Netflix show of all time (so far) with 82 million (!!!) households tuning in to watch in its first four weeks after premiering. 
Some may say being 'stuck' at home, with cinemas closed, added to this number. While that may be true, the simple fact remains: the fans tuned in, watched all eight episodes and demanded more. We eagerly awaited another Season, another Bridgerton, another visit with Queen Charlotte, Lady Danbury, Violet, and of course, the narrator of each episode, Lady Whistledown, the ton's most infamous and wealthiest gossip writer (she was Twitter, Tik-Tok, FaceBook, & Instagram all rolled into one).
We had to wait over two whole long years, until March 25, 2022, for Season 2. While not as popular as its previous season, Season 2 still ranked high on viewers' lists, finishing 9th in the overall most-watched-ever English shows (Season 1 is currently at 4th). There's many reasons why, and the debate can continue for as long as there are people to debate. Reasons given include people being more out and about, the time/month of release, the different storylines, and most of all, a lot fewer sex scenes.
                                                            Game of Pall Mall anyone?

Between Seasons 2 and 3, we had the 'companion' series, Queen Charlotte, focused on the younger generation we've all known and come to love. It is, to me, and many, a heartbreaking season, dealing with the hero's mental illness (this is King George, after all, notoriously 'mad' and perhaps most well known for starting the War for Independence of its most famous colonies soon to be called The United States of America). It's hard to watch, at times, knowing the history as we do, and what happens to George and Charlotte, but it is so beautifully acted and deals so well with the issues of mental health, its crude and truly horrifying treatments, and how love, true love, may not conquer all but survives all.
                                                      George & Charlotte: Love survives all

Also, there are several 'modern' issues (feminism, racism, etc.) that...to be blunt, esp. for Queen Charlotte, a viewer is beaten over the head so many times it's easier to skip scenes and get to the balls or fun, rather than be lectured, once again, on the unfairness of the times. It's also never been a secret the details and 'license' taken with history is something Bridgerton & Queen Charlotte don't concern itself with. But isn't that the point? This is ENTERTAINMENT, not a history show. 
Which brings me to the point: Should we modernize history just for the sake of show?
In my most humble opinion, Gentle Readers, if I wanted a lecture on the sanitation or actual dress of people in the early 1800s I'd watch the History Channel. I can forgive little details like... there probably wasn't such an array of colorful clothing and diversity in the ton as Bridgerton portrays. Everything wasn't all roses and silk, especially for the common folk, and life, if you didn't have money, was not an easy thing.
Don't I make a GREAT Bridgerton ton Lady?
But one of the things Bridgerton does so well is showing us the unfairness of the times, especially for women: As Daphne, the heroine of Season 1 says, "This (to marry 'well', meaning a man of title and means) is my only purpose, the only thing I've been raised and taught to do my whole life" and she says this to her brother, who is free to roam around with ladies of ...questionable morals and not be chastined while she is alone with a man once and is forced to marry him (although it is exactly what she wants). The 'double standard', also said by Elouise to another brother: Men can do whatever they want, go or travel or do anything. Women don't have that same freedom." 
These are powerful statements that show why, a century later, Britain granted women the right to vote before its former colony did theirs. Britain also led the way by outlawing salary, and paying reparations long before such a thing became a topic in America. And while many of their names are lost to history, women, particularly Queen Victoria, were a huge reason behind these massive social movements and changes. I'd like to think Victoria looked to the achievements of her grandmother Charlotte as a model for how to rule, and rule well, in a country and a time when change was always occurring and the world as a whole didn't favor the 'voice' or rule of a woman. Queen Elizabeth II was said to have also looked to her great-great-grandmother Victoria when she became Queen (and would eventually become the largest-lived monarch in British history, surpassing her famous ancestor).
                                                                  A Bridgerton ton friend
And also...both the power and the dilemma faced by Lady Whistledown, the gossip writer who becomes the second most powerful woman in the UK, behind only the Queen-- and in some cases, a bit besting her (the rivalry between Queen Charlotte and Lady Whistledown in verbal and written remarks is both telling and funny, a chess game that will either explode or implode). Lady W is forced to hide her identity for many reasons, the least of all being she IS female, writing at a time when females often had to write as a man to be published. 
We viewers learn Lady W's identity well before the rest of the characters (which sets up the main drama for Season 3). But when she is revealed, she loses her best friend, for a time, she loses the love of her life, her family, possibly her income, and most importantly, she faces the wrath of the Queen and the members of the ton who are none too pleased she has revealed many of their dark secrets.
Create your own Bridgerton look at:                                                                 bridgertonportrait.com

So while Bridgerton isn't a 'historical' show...it is historic. The Seasons, balls, marriage mart, rules, etc. are all very real: women, especially young women, were raised to run a household and not much else. The job was to marry a decent man who could support them and bring honor to the family name. They were sheltered, unable to be alone with a man, or alone, period, outside their homes. And, again as Bridgerton shows, sex was NOT a topic discussed, even between the most loving mother Violet, and her daughter Daphne.
I do like the way Bridgerton writers gently, and sometimes, not gently, remind us it is the working class folks who allow the ton to continue, who keep the country running, and in a very real sense, are the true power. As we saw so graphically during the pandemic, those we give little thought to are the very ones we can't do without. 
So if you haven't joined the millions watching Bridgerton...WHY??? Give thee hence to a TV or computer or phone or iPad ASAP and tune in! While each season (like its book) stands on its own, with a beginning and an end, you will want to watch from the beginning, Season 1, especially because Season 3 is the slow-burn romance of the characters that has been building since Season 1. 
                                                               Season 3: The 'Polin' Season!            Speaking of Season 3...it's on track to be the biggest Season of Bridgerton yet, nipping at the heels of Season's 1 coveted spot with 92 million viewers since its release in May & June (this Season was divided into two parts, released a month apart--I HATE this! Don't do this again! Noooooo) and becoming the most watched English show ever on Netflix. It's my favorite season, for many reasons, And I think I need to stop typing and go watch it again.
And that, Gentle Reader, is a tale for quite another time, isn't it?

Staying True to Your Characters

 

Premiered April 17, 2011

Thirteen years ago, what is described as 'The Greatest Show in TV History' premiered on pay channel HBO. This would have been April 2011, and I admit, I didn't pay much attention at first because a. I was 1 month from university graduation; b. working 2 full-time jobs; and c. I couldn't afford HBO. It wasn't until 3 or 4 years later a friend 'lent' me his HBO watch password so I could see what all the fuss was about. 

And what a show it was. It's massive, in scope and cast. Each episode and season follows a dozen main characters and dozens of minor ones. There's epic screenshots of the 'kingdoms' which range from: the frozen North with the main castle Winterfell and The Wall, a man-made structure to keep Westeros 'safe' from the tribes of 'wildlings' who live 'further north'; to the warm South where the capital King's Landing is; the East lands where Essos, Slavers Bay and wide, seemingly endless desert lies; the flower-rich HighGarden in the west; the Twins Riverlands; the mountainous Vale; and the Iron Islands. DragonStone, where dragons once lived and hatched, is an island not far from King's Landing. There's also Valerian, a mysterious, supposedly abandoned place where 'The Doom' caused the destruction and death of anyone there.

Main 'Kingdoms' of Westeros

Ruling each section are lords and some ladies who are 'heads of their house' (not unlike US taxes today) and set the tone of the main families. The Starks rule the North; the Lannisters (yeah, yeah, I know technically it's the Baratheons but King Robert doesn't last long, and the heirs are Lannisters) have the Iron Throne in the South, and we meet the various Lords of each of the other mini kingdoms as they all come in to play for control of the Iron Throne (and hence the name of the show). Also, Daenerys 'Dany' Targaryen, the last (we think) living member of the once great family who rode and 'mastered' the dragons and ruled the whole 7 kingdoms is introduced to us. Each family has their own motto, banner, etc. very much like the medieval nobles (and some still around today). We also meet their friends, bodyguards, servants, etc. with names like SpyMaster, The Hound, The Mountain, No One, The Priestess, etc. We see jousting in the first season, epic battles, sword fights, taverns, horses, travels, amour, plus lots and lots of sex, wine, and power play games.

Still with me? I did say it was massive. 

There are 8 seasons in total, and people live, die, scheme, fall in love, scheme more, torment each other, and all the other things humans do. The ultimate goal is to be 'head' of a house or be King/Queen, and for Dany, regain the Iron Throne that was stolen from her family. So in other words, again not so different from US politics today, where the Dems and Repubs scheme and fight and lie and cheat to be 'head' of the country, where money is power, and most of the people simply live to scrape by and try to survive while the rich sit around drinking wine.

I'll go more into the systems in other posts. I did like this series. Once. I detested the last season, as do 100% of the people I have talked to, read, listened to, or seen. The main reasons for the utter destruction of the 'greatest show in TV history', ultimately come down to the extremely poor writing, lack of 'wrap up', and the assassination of the characters.

And THIS, more than anything, is what I mean when I say Stay True to Your Characters or your story falls apart. Completely. In a book, we can throw it or delete it if an author does this. In a TV show, especially one that has so steadfast, and strongly built a character up, it's like a deep betrayal that strikes at the heart.

The TV series is based on the series of books of the same name, (yes, I have read, and actually prefer them) but since the book writer quit the series and has promised for 15 some years the next book is 'coming soon', the TV series writers had to write their own after around season 3. They do well until it's rumored, they were offered 'better' projects and just wanted to wrap up Game of Thrones so they condensed the last 2 seasons into a mess of 'tying up loose ends'. And what I call character assassination.

I'll take one character: Dany. We meet her as a young (15? maybe) girl, who has been on the run from assassins her whole life, as the daughter of the 'Mad King' who was killed by his personal guard. Her brother is a power-mad abuser who likes to slap, punch, and hit her and has seemingly pounded into her head they deserve the Iron Throne and have a duty to reclaim it. She's very submissive, friendless, and just "wants a home". She's told how her mother was murdered by those who killed her father and then slaughtered all the living Targaryens, including innocent children because they were 'threats' to the throne. She & her brother are the last (it's later revealed they have a very old uncle & a nephew). She's sold off to fierce warlord Drogo, and gradually they fall in love. She even finds friends in her bodyguard Jorah and a servant girl. She also has dragon eggs, and dreams of them hatching, though they are supposedly stone. She seems happy, safe, and secure--then Drogo suffers a horrible death, she loses their baby, and has to try to make a living in the desert after most of the tribe leaves her with her servant and Jorah. She steps into Drogo's funeral fire with her dragon eggs, and the next morning emerges from the ashes with 3 very alive baby dragons.

Eventually, after a long trek through the desert, she comes to a town where she is seemingly patronized by a rich lord, who kills everyone (including we think, her servant friend) to take her dragons. She reclaims them after a battle and show of fire from said dragons and strives to free the slave kingdoms from slavery. She is a 'good' person, a heroine who wants only to free people from being abused (as she was), release them from the fear of powerful people (as she was with her brother), and gain ships so she can sail to reclaim the Iron Throne. She meets a translator friend, who becomes her best friend. Her advisors are close friends; she even takes a lover. She gets rid of the slave masters all right, but a radical group takes their place, and Dany finds ruling is not easy, nor are people who have only known slavery always happy to be 'free'. She needs a new system to replace the old and begins working on this, even delaying her long-awaited trip to reclaim her family's rightful throne, the one consistent thing in her whole life.

Heroine motives, yes? She kills only the 'evil' people and stands for the little guys. She has pure motives, perhaps the purest of any of the multiple characters in this entire series. She wants a better world, a good world, where people live free and not in fear. It's a dream, of course, that we all say we want, even as we know, deep down, it's impossible. But she is determined to help, to make lives better, especially for the children. She is a good person, definitely not flawless, and makes lots of mistakes since she's inexperienced, and having fled Westeros, has no real connection there except she's been told from birth that she must reclaim the Iron Throne to avenge her family. Her army, advisors, and friends adore, fight for, and follow her.

Yet Jon Snow/Stark comes and asks her to help him rid the biggest threat ever to humans: the Night Walkers & Army of the Dead, led by the Night King, who is determined to see all humankind die. After losing one of her beloved dragon children to this Night King, and seeing the army in action, Dany again postpones her reclaiming of the Iron Throne to help Jon rid the world of the Walking Dead. Honorable. Good. Make a better world. Rid the world of evil.

Dany even endures the hostile glares of the other northerners, including Jon's own sisters (I detest Sansa, she's a bitch to begin with and a bitch to the end) and stays to help fight. She loses most of her army and her beloved Jorah, who dies protecting her. When the battle ends, and they just barely win, she asks for armies to defeat the evil Cerci in the south, the north more or less says, "We're tired, you aren't one of us, fight your own battle." Jon goes with her, though-- even after he learns the 'father' he thought was his isn't...and he's actually the last male heir Targaryen, the true heir to the Iron Throne, Dany's nephew.

Oh boy.

So Dany had given up a lot to help others, even as they are hostile and don't appreciate all she has done for them. But again pure motives: she put aside her own wants and a lifelong dream to aid those less powerful, the helpless, and especially the children. She doesn't try to claim credit for being the reason the North survives and defeats the Night King. Yeah, a northerner killed him, but without her dragons & army, the North never would have gotten close to the King or survived the battle. Yet not one northerner, following Sansa's lead, thanks her-- even after Dany deflects attention away from herself by toasting Aria, who killed the Night King.

That has to sting. But Dany never shows it. She just wants to regain her family's throne, the dream she thinks she must have. She really needs what she had with Drogo: love, acceptance, happiness, and a simple life. That's what she really wants. All she really wants.

So when the writers have her burn alive hundreds of innocent men, women, and especially children in King's Landing, it's so against everything we have seen and known of Dany. It's character assassination that makes no sense except to wrap up the storyline and make her a 'mad queen' as her father was a 'mad king' (he said, "Burn them all!" which Jamie Lannister takes to mean burn all people and why Jamie killed him, but *I* think means burn all white walkers/army of the dead, which is only one of 3 ways to kill them and the only way to ensure they never return-the 'mad king' had this vision and was trying to save everyone). They kill off 2 of her dragons, her children, her best friends, and her advisors. Even Jon turns against her. She's all alone again, an older version of the frightened girl who has no one to turn to for help, love, or guidance.

I can't bear what happened to Dany. She has grown, made mistakes, and owns them. She has learned and genuinely tries to be a better person trying to create a better, fair, just world. The sole good powerful person who didn't plot against other characters to kill them off and take the throne for power. I'm not sure, after the Slavers Bay incidents, Dany even realizes what it means to be the King/Queen: she just wants her family's honor, and especially their deaths, to mean something. She MUST fulfill the mission instilled in her since birth, regardless of the cost. But is it what she truly wants?

We never get to see because the writers lazily and wrongly write her off as a 'mad' killer of innocents when she never was before. And sorry, but women for centuries have been called 'mad' for their actions, especially by jealous men who feel threatened by them. Not to get all feminist here, but writing Dany seemingly being 'mad' and killing thousands is just so, so WRONG. It's NOT her character. It's NOT her. 

Cerci is the true mad queen, driven by rage and hate, who killed thousands of innocents to rid her of 'enemies' (she blew up a CHURCH, for lord's sake) but no one rebels or turns against her even when she beheads Dany's best friend in front of her and pulls even more innocent people into the walls of the capital to use as shields between her and the coming battle (sounds like what's going on in our world now, doesn't it?) instead of evacuating the capital because of the coming war. A good ruler, a just ruler, would send his/her people away from danger, not draw them in closer. Yet Dany is supposedly 'mad' in minutes. No. No, no, no, no.

It's lazy writing. Period. 

The writers assassinate other characters, notably Jamie Lannister (more of him in a separate post) but none so greatly as they do to Dany. The sole good person who just wants a better world.

As a different example of lazy writing: Sansa in season 1 is a spoiled, selfish brat who wants to be a princess & wear pretty dresses. Sansa in season 8 is a spoiled, selfish bitch who wants (and gets) to be queen & wear pretty dresses. She doesn't grow or change through the 8 seasons. Yes, she is bullied, raped (99% of female characters on this show are raped-- Dany has gone through the exact same things until she takes control of her own life & learns the tribe's ways--Sansa just sits around and whines), and threatened, but 'suffer'? Heck no! Especially when compared to the other characters and even members of her own family. Sansa got to sit around eating and drinking whatever she wanted. She's never in true danger, never goes to battle, never has to fight to survive nor does she fight for or defend her family or friends. She's a useless character, a stereotypical 'lady' who represents all the worst of powerful, rich people. (Side note: How the heck is Sansa 'married' to Ramsey when she is STILL married to Ty?)

It's lazy writing.

This could have been the 'Greatest Show in TV History'. If only we had writers who cared in the last seasons as much as they did in the first.

Once in a Lifetime--or Twice

 

2024 Total Solar Eclipse

April 8, 2024, saw a great portion of North America see a Total Solar Eclipse, where the moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, and 'blocks' the sun from the Earth for almost five minutes. When total, the Moon completely blocks the Sun, with a small 'ring' of light while those under this totality see the temperature drop and complete darkness.

I've never seen a total Total Solar Eclipse. 

I've been close: in August of 2017, my area was in '95% totality', meaning almost the entire Sun would be blocked and we would have near darkness. We were excited, elated, and made big plans, my student and I, for that day. We went to the local diner and had burgers, fries, and milkshakes, a huge treat for us since her mom rarely allowed such 'junk' food. We made a pinpoint protector from a cereal box and got the special glasses. We were so excited as we sat on a blanket and waited.

Well, it did get a bit dimmer, it did get a bit cooler (there was also a nice breeze, so this probably helped), but the complete, "It was as dark as midnight!" several friends in 100% totality reported didn't even come close. My student and I were greatly disappointed.

April 2024 was no different. Reported to be in '87% totality' I approached the event the same way as in 2017: Excited, telling everyone I knew, posting all over social media (which for me, at least, didn't exist in 2017 near to the extent I now use it) and getting special glasses.

And it was cloudy. But between the clouds, as seen in the title photo, the sun was gorgeously bright.

The Eclipse did make things dim: It was a weird not day, not night, not dawn, not dusk, sort of light that is hard to describe. The air and light appeared grey-brown. I held my iPad up and hit 'take' every few seconds. This is what I captured (I know, I know, I'm no photographer):

So, as you see...the Sun still had the brightness...but it looked BLUE. CAROLINA BLUE. So this fact thrilled the heck out of me, living in the Carolina Blue Tarheel state (yes, I am easily and simply amused). But quite, quite different from images others around North America captured:

Photos By WGRZ Buffalo

Maybe one day I will drive to where the Total Solar Eclipse is 100%. And it would be a drive for me, as the next Total Solar Eclipse in August 2044 will only be visible in three US states (Montana, North & South Dakota) & Canada. There's another in the US in 2045, across the lower half of the US, and almost all of Florida, so maybe I could drive ten hours down there.

It is for once in a lifetime, after all.

In the meantime...I will just have to content myself looking at other people's gorgeous photos, hearing their stories, and watching my favorite Eclipse movie: Ladyhawke, starring a pre-Ferris Bueler Matthew B, a young Michelle P, and a gorgeous Rutger H.

Awards Fashion!

 

I admittedly, am NOT a fashionista. Not even close to a fashionista. Ever. I prefer loose, comfy, cozy, and things that would no doubt horrify a true fashionista. 

But I do like to look at the beautiful fashion on tv, especially at the awards shows, while I sit all comfy in my pjs and snuggled in a fluffy, soft blanket at home. You know, the awards are given for Best Movie or Best Song of the Year, and the singers, actors, performers, and all those production behind-the-scenes people who make the magic of a song or movie or television show happen.

While I watch the Red Carpet looks, I usually talk to friends (either phone or online) about what we like and don't like. And I imagine my characters, especially Ally (Let Me Know) and Kirsten (Take on Me) doing the exact same thing...although, in Kirsten's case, she and her Hollywood megastar hubby would probably be ON the Red Carpet!

And I have to admit... I long for the old glam days of Hollywood, where the ladies arrived decked to the nines in gorgeous flowing gowns, elegant hairstyles, sparkling jewelry, and long satin gloves. Grace Kelly. Audrey H. Elizabeth T. Le sighs. 

Audrey and Grace

Elizabeth

'Modern' Glam

But that said...Award Shows are vastly different in their presentations. Perhaps because of the target audience. And I'm very, very aware that what is 'fashion' is often determined by a very select few, and like books, movies, songs, and shows, is truly 'in the eye of the beholder'. What *I* consider gorgeous and what I think is ridiculous isn't the same as what others think. 

Take, for example, some awards, where 'causal' and 'bare the most skin' seem to be the fashion headliners. I don't think sheer nor a few strips of cloth over private areas is a good look for anyone, even if you have the 'perfect' body. Sorry, not sorry, I just don't. 

Um..well...um...no

The UK BAFTA Awards seem the closest to the old glam I long to see, with the Oscars and SAG (Screen Actor Guild) the closest. The BAFTA Awards even have the Prince and Princess of Wales attend! The ladies are almost always gorgeous attired in flowy dresses of gorgeous textures and colors, amazing hairstyles, and incredible sparkly jewelry. 

Prince & Princess of Wales...WOW

Oh WOW...Dua Lipa

Da'Vine looks divine!

At this year's (2024) SAG awards...wow:

Taraji P. Henson


All the Stars are Shining bright!

 What are your favorite awards show fashion? Would your characters watch the Red Carpet, too? What would they say? And wear?